One of the Iowa National Guard’s most storied units, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division (“Red Bulls”), has been awarded the Department of Defense’s prestigious Citizen Patriot Unit Award. Presented by the Office of the Secretary of Defense Reserve Forces Policy Board, Red Bull leadership received the award during a presentation on Sept. 5th, 2012 at the Fort Myer, Va. Officers Club.

Leadership from the Iowa National Guard’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry and the National Guard Bureau receive the Citizen Patriot Unit Award on behalf of the unit during a ceremony at the Fort Myer, Va., Officers Club. From left to right: Col. Michael Amundson, current Commander, 2nd BCT; Col. Benjamin Corell, former Commander, 2BCT; Lt. Gen. William Ingram, Director, Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau; and, Lt. Col. Steve Kremer, former commander, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, 2BCT. Amundson, Corell, and Kremer are all members of the Iowa Army National Guard

According to Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., Director of the Army National Guard, “The ‘Red Bulls’ distinguished themselves and made substantial contributions to the security and defense of the nation, while serving in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Gen. Ingram says “As one of the largest single deployments since World War II, the 2/34th BCT proudly lived up to their heritage with several members being recognized with medals of valor. More importantly, recognition is due in light of the tremendous standard in which their mission was accomplished with the loss of four servicemembers. They will not be forgotten.”

Iowa Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Tim Orr said “As in previous conflicts, the Red Bulls lived up to their history and the reputation of Iowa’s Citizen-Soldiers as some of the finest and most dependable Soldiers in the Army, and are therefore, as the nomination narrative details, most deserving of the Citizen Patriot Unit Award.” According to Col. Ben Corell, the 2nd Brigade, 34th Infantry commander, the award is a tribute to all members of Task Force Red Bulls and those who prepared the unit for the Afghanistan mission and supported the Soldiers and their families during the year-long deployment.

The unit departed Iowa in July 2010 for training at Camp Shelby, Miss. and arrived in Afghanistan in November 2010, where they transitioned into “Task Force Red Bulls.” During the course of the deployment, the unit partnered with the Afghan National Security Forces and also conducted full spectrum counterinsurgency operations. The Red Bulls returned home to Iowa in July 2011. The four Iowans killed in action during the year-long deployment were Sgt. Brent M. Maher (Honey Creek), Spc. Donald L. Nichols (Shell Rock), Staff Sgt. James A. Justice (Grimes), and Sgt. 1st Class Terryl L. Pasker (Cedar Rapids).

The Citizen Patriot Award for Distinguished Service, awarded annually to one individual and one military unit across the Dept. of Defense organization, was created in 2002 in commemoration of the Reserve Forces Policy Board’s 50th Anniversary. The Citizen Patriot Unit Award is presented to U.S. military units serving our nation.

For more information about the Citizen Patriot Unit Award, go to http://ra.defense.gov/rfpb/awards/index.html .

(Press Release: IA National Guard)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney says President Barack Obama’s speech to the Democratic National Convention gives no confidence that he can create jobs. Romney’s commented while campaigning yesterday in Sioux City, Iowa after the latest unemployment report showed employers created only 96,000 jobs last month. Romney also spoke in Orange City, Iowa.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama were joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden for a campaign rally in Iowa City yesterday. The event drew a festive crowd of 8,000 people, some of whom were in town for today’s Iowa-Iowa State rivalry game. The President spoke for 30 minutes in making his case for a second term.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines man is charged with stealing nearly $40,000 worth of walnut trees from federal property. The U.S. attorney’s office says this week that 49-year-old Randall Walker is charged with five counts of theft. During an initial court appearance, Walker was ordered held pending trial, set for October 29th in Des Moines.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Slimy blobs are showing up in the Wapsipinicon (wahp-sih-PIHN’-ih-kahn) River in northeastern Iowa and other spots in the upper Midwest and Canada. The Gazette reports that they’re colonies of bryozoa, animals that scientifically are called Pectinatella magnifica. Experts say the blobs are manifestations of the drought, as they like warm water with little current.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A boil advisory has been lifted for water customers in the central Iowa town of Kellogg. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says samples show that the water is safe to cook with and drink. The advisory was issued after a water main break Tuesday morning.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – University of Iowa President Sally Mason says in hindsight, she probably wouldn’t renew a contract with Anheuser-Busch because of the backlash. Mason says she’s not sure it’s worth the revenue. During a taping on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program today, Mason says she’d probably reconsider, and more than likely not even do it.

TIFFIN, Iowa (AP) – A 19-year-old man has been charged with vehicular homicide for the death of a 14-year-old girl who was in his car when it collided with a van near Tiffin. Authorities say Zachary Swenka of North Liberty was arrested yesterday in connection with the crash on October 17th, 2011. A Johnson County jailer tells the Associated Press today that Swenka has been booked and released.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says students from Atlantic, Anita, Cumberland, Massena, Lewis and Walnut elementary schools will participate in the Coca-Cola Days Coloring Contest this week to celebrate the 20th anniversary year of the annual tourism event. Coca-Cola Days Chair Dolly Bergmann says “The contest is done in partnership with the area schools. Some classes do the project in their classrooms, and others send the coloring sheets home with students to do on their own time.”

Safeguard/Choice Printing provides the coloring sheets and Bonnesen’s 5 & 10 provides the prizes for grades K-3. The coloring sheets are judged by the Coca-Cola Days committee members and students are awarded a $10 Bonnesen’s gift card for first place and a $5 gift card for second place. Photos of the winners will be publicized before the September 22nd event and the participants coloring sheets will be displayed in downtown store fronts September 18-24.

According to Bergmann “Collectors from 20 to 30 states come to Atlantic for Coca-Cola Days and rave about the amount of community support our convention has. The coloring contest, parade and retail promotions done during that week are all a part of why they love to come to Atlantic.” The deadline to enter is by 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 12th by returning the coloring sheets to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 102 Chestnut Street, Atlantic. For questions or more information contact the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Council Bluffs man working on his pickup truck died after a fan blade from the engine broke loose and struck hit him in the neck. 50-year-old Roger Klein was working on his truck on Thursday. Police say he was apparently keeping the motor running with starter fluid and using the choke. When he bent over the engine, the fan blade dislodged and hit him, killing him almost instantly. His wife came home and found him on the driveway next to the truck. Authorities are trying to determine how the blade came loose.

A southwest Iowa man says getting involved in a police chase was like an episode of “Cops.” The man’s pickup truck was stolen from his home on Labor Day and then yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, he spotted the truck crossing the Veterans Memorial Bridge from Council Bluffs into Omaha, so he started chasing it. He  says the truck thief had taken the stickers off the window and changed the license plates, but he recognized other elements and knew it was his vehicle. The man, who didn’t want to be identified, says he called 911 and stayed with the truck until law officers joined the pursuit. The Iowa State Patrol and Omaha police picked up the chase and stuck with the pickup until it crashed into a fence. The driver, 30-year-old Jessica Katz, took off running but was soon in handcuffs. “I followed the cop cars to the scene and she was already in custody by the time I got here,” he says. “It was quite the ordeal. It felt like an episode of ‘Cops’ and I was the cop without a badge.” Katz was booked on charges of theft, hit and run, drug possession and flight to avoid arrest.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report today (Friday) that three people, two from Atlantic and one from Audubon, were arrested late last month following a fight at 524 Market Street, in Harlan. The incident happened August 25^th.  Official said 23-year old Justin Patton, of Atlantic, was charged with assault with intent to cause injury, disorderly conduct and interference with official acts. 32-year-old John Knight, of Atlantic, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with official acts. And, 28-year-old Eddie Mack, Jr., of Audubon, was charged with possession of contraband in a correctional facility, and interference with official acts.

All three men made their initial appearances in court August 29th, and have plead not guilty to the charges. They were released from the Shelby County Jail after posting $1,000 bond, each. Preliminary hearings in their cases was set for Sept. 13th.

Police in Shenandoah say three teens were arrested on 3^rd degree burglary and possession of burglary tools charges early this (Friday) morning. Two of the teens, 19-year-old Jesse Powell, 19-year-old Dallas Liable were brought to the Page County Jail. Powell later posted bond. And, a 16-year old allegedly involved in the attempted break-in, was transported to the juvenile detention center in Council Bluffs.

The arrests occurred after Shenandoah Police responded to a reported burglary in progress at the Mt. Arbor Nursery at around 2:30-a.m. Assisting with the investigation and arrests, were deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says the number of burglaries have dropped-off in the community, since the Police Department last week issued a warning to residents of the City to lock the doors on their homes and vehicles, following a couple of residential burglaries which occurred in the City.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green

Green said the thieves were apparently targeting electronic equipment, like computers and audio components, but they’ve gotten wise to the facts the public is being more observant. He says his officers have also been conducting surveillance, and since the news release on August 30^th, the activity has slowed. The “rash” of burglaries he says, is not currently continuing.

Green says they have some leads, but nothing has panned out just yet. He says residents need to remain vigilant though, in their awareness of strange activity going on in their neighborhood, and not be lulled into a false sense of security just because the incidents have seemingly stopped. He says most of the burglaries were residential, and there wasn’t any particular pattern.

Green says while some people may think the thieves are targeting primarily the residences of business owners while they are away from home, they’re not the only ones to have been hit. He says the thieves were hitting homes during the lunch hour, when there is a lesser opportunity people will be around.

The Chief reminds residents that if you should happen to come home and find it has been broken into, immediately exit the residence and call police. Entering the home and tampering with touched objects can result in possible lost evidence, and, there is a chance the suspect or suspects may still be in the residence.

Police in Clarinda say they’re investigating a theft and an incident of vandalism. Chief Keith Brothers says on Tuesday, September 4^th, a woman reported that a clutch purse had been stolen from her vehicle while it was parked at her residence in the 200 block of west Logan Street. The theft occurred sometime between 10:0 0 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The purse was later located at the Alco Discount Center in Clarinda. The woman said $30.00 cash had been taken from the purse.

And, on Thursday, September 6^th, a woman in Clarinda reported that her 1971 Ford Mustang had been vandalized while the vehicle was parked at her residence located in the 500 block of south 13^th Street. The paint on the vehicle had been damaged with a sharp object, the driver’s side exterior rear-view mirror had been pulled off, the tires punctured and the gas cap broken. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.00. Both incidents remain under investigation.

The Walnut City Council, Thursday evening, passed a Resolution of Support for the Continuation of Education in Walnut. City Clerk Terry Abell told KJAN News the Council received a report about the economic impact on the community, if it should lose its school, which has faced declining enrollment, and the possibility of consolidation with another district. She said a group of concerned citizens said City leaders need to be aware of the potential impact that such a move could have. On a related note, Terry says a spaghetti supper will be held one-week from this Saturday in Walnut, along with discussion about the future of the school district. She says the free spaghetti supper will be held in the old high school gym beginning at 5:30-p.m. Sept, 15^th, followed by an informational meeting at 6-p.m.

In other business, the Walnut City Council, Thursday, heard a presentation from brothers Shea Campbell and Taylor Campbell, with regard to their proposed Eagle Scout City Park beautification projects. She says Shea wants to paint the buildings at the Walnut Park, while Taylor wants to have the scouts scrape and paint about 60 fire hydrants.

The Walnut City Council also passed an ordinance that will allow the use of golf carts on City streets, and they approved the appointment of Tim Branan, Lois Brix, Lesley Krummel, Betty Roberts, and Denise Sandbothe, to the Community Development Committee.

(9-a.m. News)